Method and apparatus for feeding liquid fuel



Dec. 17, 1929.

J. scHEMlNGER, JR

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR FEEDING LIQUID FUEL Filed Aug.

2 Sheets-Sheet l @UIEGASEQUS FUEL BURNhm,

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METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR FEEDING LIQUID FUEL Filed Aug. 18, 192:5, 2sheets-.sheet 2 I VJ I ll "AI N u a 51 I f ,i

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Patented Dec. 17, 1929 PATENT OFFICE JOHN SCHEMINGER, JR., OFPROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND', ASSIGNOR TO AETNA AUTOMATIC OIL BURNER,INCORPORATED, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW 'YORK M ETHOD ANDAPPARATUS FOR FEEDING LIQUID FUEL Application filed August 18, 1923.

This invention relates to devices for feeding liquid fuel to rotary oilburners, or the like, and more particularly to devices of the characterreferred to in which the liquid fuel supply tank is located above thelevel of the burner.

In the operation of pump-feed rotary oil burners, when the liquid fuelis conducted Cil direct from the pump to the burner, the agitation orpulsa-tory action produced by the pump piston on the moving column ofliquid seriously interferes with the operation of the burner, resultingat times in extinguishing the Hame.

The primary object of my invention is to overcome this difculty andprovide simple, inexpensive, reliable and efcient means for eecting asteady and uniform feed or flow of the liquid fuel from a pump to theburner, or other device with which my invention may be used, unaffectedby the pulsations of the pump as in pump-fed liquid fuel burners asheretofore ordinarily constructed, such means including a separating andquieting apparatus whereby a portion of the liquid in its passage fromthe pump to the burner is .separated from the major portion and causedto descend and fiow quietly to the burner unaffected by the agitation orpulsations produced bv the pump piston, while the larger portion isreturned t-o the supply tank or source from which it came.

A further object is to provide simple and efficient means to prevent thetank from bei ing emptied by siphonic action, which is sometimes set upwhen the pump is stopped, and in case of leakage in the pipe line.

The invention will first be hereinafter more particularly described,with reference to the accompanying drawings, which are to be taken as apart of this specication, and then pointed out in the claims at the endof the description.

In said drawings,

Fig. l is a side elevation, partly in section,

Serial No. 658,146.

of an apparatus embodying my invention, including pipe connectionsbetween VV the burner and a fuel supply tank and between the burner andtank and a liquid fuel separating and quieting apparatus interposed inthe pipe line between the tank and the burner;

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view of the separating and quietingapparatus; and

Fig. 3 is a plan view of said apparatus, the top thereof being removed.

Referring to said drawings, inwhich the same reference characters areused t0 denote corresponding parts in different views, the latter Adenotes the fuel receptacle of a liquid fuel controlling or separatingand quieting device interposed in the pipe line between a supply tank Land a pump P; said tank being elevated above the level of a rotary oilburner or other device (not shown) with which the apparatus is used. Thetank L is connected with the pump P by means of a suction pipe 1,preferably through a priming chamber C, such as shown, for example, inmy Patent No. 1,442,87 dated January 16, 1923, but .suchV primingchamber may be dispensed with. I

The separating and quieting device comprises a suitable liquid fuelreceptacle preferably of oblong form, having formed on its bottom atubular boss a in which is secured a cylindrical member or stand-pipe B,directly over a pipe 2 leading from the pump P. Within the cylinder B isslidably fitted a piston valve D which may have a slotted shank toreceive the end of a lever E which is fulcrumed on an upright e mountedupon a dis-A charge pipe 3a which connects the lower end of the cylinderB through an opening in the outer wall of the liquid receptacle with apipe 3, which extends to the burner. The pipe 3 has a valve 3b thereinfor regulating the supply of fuel to the burner. Within a valve chamberF mounted upon the pipe 3a there is a valve for cont-rolling the supplyof fuel to the burner, said valve having its stem f pivoted to the leverE, so that when the long arm of said lever is raised by the piston l),the valve within the chamber F will be opened for the passage of fuel tothe burner. A weight El may be adjustably secured upon the lever E forvarying the pressure of the fluid delivered to the burner. The lever Eextends through a vertical slot I) in the cylinder B and into the slotformed in the upper end or shank of the piston valve D and its free endis arranged between pins b1 and b2, one above and the other below thelever, so that the piston valve may move a short distance before eitherpin engages the lever for raising or lowering the outlet valve. A pipe4: protruding' through the top of the tank L extends therefrom to the.liquid chamber of the separator and from said supply tank a suction pipel extends to the pump P through thepriming chamber C. A pipe section 5leads from the lower portion of the liquid chamber of the separator intothe suction pipe l and has a vent openine` 5a therein for a purposehereinafter described. A vent 3 is also provided in the cylinder B toadmit air behind the piston valve when it is raised above the outlet endof the pipe 3a, said air vent being normally closed by the piston valve.

An opening a is provided in the top of the receptacle A through whichair is admitted thereto.

In operation, the liquid entering the cylinder B raises the valve Dtherein and through it the lever E, thus opening the valve in the valvechamber F and a portion of the liquid fuel passes through the pipe 3aand the down pipe 3 to the burner, while a larger portion of the fuelpasses out of the cylinder through the vertical slot therein into theliquid chamber surrounding the cylinder and escapes therefrom throughthe pipe d into the supply tank.

It will be observed that the column of liquid fuel established in thepipe 3 is fed to the burner under pressure of gravity and that the fluidpressure created by the pump and the back pressure of the liquid forcedby the pump into the liquid chamber of the separator acts upon the fuelin said column to increase the pressure at the point of delivery, andsuch pressure may be varied a. desired, to increase or decrease thepressure under which the liquid fuel is delivered to the burner, bymeans of an adjustable weight El on the valve operating lever E. Thusthe liquid fuel drawn from the supply tank is separated into larger andsmaller portions and the larger portion is returned to the tank whilethe smaller portion is caused to pass quietly and evenly to the burner,in a non-turbulent and steadily flowing stream, the larger' portionbeingl forced to a point above the burner and supply tank where theweight of the valve D aided by the adjustable weight El will create backpressure opposed to and tending to counteract the pressure of the pumpfor effecting the desired separation and quieting of the minor portionand causing it to pass continuously and evenly to the burner unaffectedby the pulsations or irregular movements of the pump piston or pistons.

ln the event of leakage in the pipe line, when the pump is stopped andthe burner extinguished, siphonic action may be set up and the contentsof the supply tank thus emptied, with consequent waste of fuel anddanger to the premises in which the apparatus is used, and to preventthis the pipe section 5 having the vent 5a is provided so that when theliquid in the vessel il falls below the vent 5n air will be admitted tothe suction pipe at a point above the supply tank, thus breaking thesiphon.

lt will be understood of course that the invention is not restricted inits application to rotary oil burners, but may be used for feedingliquid fuel generally to any device with which it is desired to use thesame, and the appended claims should be read with this understanding.

Having thus described my invention, what l claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent of the United States is 1. A liquid fuelfeeding apparatus comprising a supply tank, a pump, a suctionpipeconnecting said pump with said tank,v

a separating device including a liquid container having anuprightcylindrical member therein, a pipe connecting the discharge fromsaid pump with said cylindrical member, a fuel feed pipe connecting saidmember with said burner or other device, and a surplus fuel return pipeconnecting said container with said tank; said cylindrical member havinga reciprocating valve therein controlling the admission of liquid fuelto said container and to said fuel feed pipe, and means associatedtherewith whereby the larger portion of the liquid fuel is returned tosaid tank while the smaller portion thereof is fed to said burner orother device.

2. A liquid fuel feeding apparatus cornprising a supply tank, a pump, aseparating device having a liquid chamber containing an uprightcylindrical member having a reciprocating valve therein controlling theadmission of the liquid fuel to sai d chamber and associated means forseparating a portion of the liquid fuel from a larger portion andeffecting the return of the larger portion to said tank while thesmaller portion is fed to a burner or other device,'a suction pipeleading from said tank to said pump, a pipe connecting said pump withsaid cylindrical member of said separating devic,e a fuel feed pipeconnecting said chamber with a burner or other device, a surplus fuelreturn pipe cennecting said chamber with said tank, and means foradmitting air to the suction pipe when Jthe liquid in said chamber fallsbelow QASEQU :s FU Bt; an han,

a predetermined point, so as to prevent the contents of the tank frombeing emptied by siphonic action.

3. A liquid fuel feeding apparatus comprising a supply tank, a pump, aseparating device having a liquid chamber containing an uprightcylindrical valve-controlled admission member and'associated means forseparating a portion of the liquid fuel from a larger portion andeffecting the return of the larger portion to said tank while thesmaller portion is fed to a burner or the like, a suction pipeconnecting said pump with said separating device, a fuel feed pipeconnecting said separating device with a burner or the like, a pipeconnecting said separating device with said tank, and a pipe connectionbetween said separating device and said suction pipe for admitting airto the suction pipe to prevent the tank from being emptied by siphonicaction.

4. A liquid fuel feeding apparatus com` prising a pump, a supply tank` aseparating device, a suction pipe connecting said tank with said pump, apipe-connection between said pump and said separating devi-ce. a surplusfuel return pipe connecting said separating device with said tank, afuel feed pipe connecting said separating' device with a burner or thelike; said separating device comprising a receptacle having a stand-pipetherein arranged directly over the inlet from said pipe-connection, apiston valve slidably fitted in said stand-pipe, a pipe connecting saidstand-pipe with said fuel feed pipe and; having an outlet valve therein,a lever fulcrumed on the last named pipe with its free end extendingthrough a vertical slot in said stand-pipe, a lost motion connectionbetween said piston valve and lever whereby the lever is raised and saidoutlet valve opened when the piston valve is raised, and vice versa,said lever having the stem of said outlet valve pivoted thereto andmeans for varying the pressure required to raise said lever.

5. A liquid fuel feeding apparatus comprising a pump, a supply tank, aseparating device, a suction pipe connecting said tank with said pump, apipe-connection between said pump and said separating device, a .surplusfuel return pipe connecting said se Jarating` device with said tank, afuel pipe connecting said separating device with a burner or the like;said separating device comprising' a receptacle having a stand-pipetherein arranged directly over the inlet from said pipeconnection, apiston valve slidably 'fitted in said stand-pipe, a pipe connecting saidstandpipe with said fuel feed pipe and having an outlet valve therein, alever fulcrumed on the last named pipe with its free end extendingthrough a vertical slot in said stand-pipe, a lost motion connectionbetween said piston valve and lever whereby the lever is raised and saidoutlet valve opened when the piston valve is raised, and vice versa,said lever having the stem of said outlet valve pivoted thereto andmeans for varying the p 1essure required to raise said lever, togetherwith a pipe-section connecting said receptacle with said suction pipeand having a restricted passage therein through which air is admitted tothe suction pipe when the liquid in said receptacle falls below apredetermined point, so as to prevent siphonic action when the pump isstopped.

6. In a liquid fuel burning system including a fuel containingreservoir, a burner, a pump and fuel lines between the reservoir andburner, of a controlling means connected with the fuel line between thepump and reservoir and in communication with an air supply, saidcontrolling means being arranged to automatically drain itself of fuelon the cessation of the pump and to replace the fuel with air from theair supply, and adapted to receive fuel on the operation of the pump todisplace the air and create a siphonic-action in the fuel lines.

7. In a liquid fuel burning sys-tem, in combination with the fuel supplyand pump, of a fuel supply line between the supply and pump, a returnline between the pump and supply, a controlling means connected with thereturn line and in communication with an air supply, said controllingmeans being located at an elevation in relation to the supply to drainthereinto -on the stoppage of the pump resulting in the displacement ofthe fuel in the controlling means with air, and arranged for thereceiving and passage of fuel therein on the operation of the pumpresulting in the displacement of the air by the fuel and the creation ofa siphonic-action in the system.

8. In a liquid fuel burning system, in combination with a fuelreservoir, a pump, and supply and return fuel lines between thereservoir and pump, means for controlling the siphonic-action in saidfuel lines and in communication therewith and with an air supply, saidcontrolling means being arranged for the admission of air into thesystem to break the siphonic-action therein, both upon the stoppage ofthe pump and also upon the passage of a limited flow of fuel through thecontrolling means during the operation of the pump in event of a leak inthe system.

9. In a liquid fuel burning system, a reservoir, a pump, a fuel feedline connecting the reservoir with the pump; said line including asection elevated above the fuel level in the reservoir, a surplus fuelreturn line leading from the pump to said reservoir, a liquid chamberinterposed in the line connecting the reservoir and pump, and a passagethrough which liquid from said chamber may pass into the feed line; saidpassage being formed with a restricted opening or airl vent in one endwhich is sealed by the liquid in the chamber when the flow of surplusfuel is normal.

l0. rllhe method of feeding fuel to a liquid fuel burner, consisting inelevating the liquid fuel from a source of supply to a higher level,passing some of the fuel from the higher level to the burner andreturning surplus fuel from said level to said supply source, providinga liquid seal against air` admission to the fuel feed line upon thereturn of a normal quantity of fuel, and admitting air to thefuel Qianupliftpoint the fuel feed when the return of surplus fuel is reducedbelow normal, so as to prevent the passage of fuel from said supplysource by siphonic action.

11. In a liquid fuel burning system, the combination of a fuel reservoirand a pump, a fuel supply line between the reservoir and pump, a returnfuel line between the pump and reservoir, and liquid controlling meansconnected in the return fuel line and having communication with saidsupply line and a source of air supply; said elements being arranged tobreak siphonic action through the supply line after stoppage of thepump, in event of leakage in said line.

12. In a liquid fuel burning system, the combination of a reservoir, apump, a fuel feed line connecting the reservoir with the pump inlet andincluding a section elevated above the fuel level in the reservoir, apump outlet line, a liquid chamber into which the pump outlet linedelivers and from which fuel is discharged to a burner, a connectionbetween said chamber and the reservoir for returning surplus fuel to thelatter, and a connection between said chamber and the fuel feed line,said last mentioned connection having an air vent therein normallysealed by fuel in said chamber when the system is in operation.

13. In a liquid fuel burning system, a reservoir, a pump, a feed lineconnecting the reservoir with the pump and including a section elevatedaboveV the fuel level in the reservoir, a fuel return line leading fromthe pump to said reservoir, a liquid container in said return line fromwhich some of the fuel is discharged to a burner while surplus fuel isreturned to the reservoir, and a pipe connection between said containerand the fuel feed line including an air vent sealed by the liquid in thecontainer when the flow of surplus fuel is normal, said seal beingadapted to be automatically broken when the flow is reduced belownormal.

14. The combination, in a liquid fuel burning system, of a fuelreservoir, a pump, a fuel supply line connecting the fuel reservoir andpump, a surplus fuel return line extendino` from the pump to thereservoir, and liquid controlling means connected with said fuel supplyand return lines and having an air vent for admitting air thereto as theIn testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

JOI-IN SCHEMINGER, J R.

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